Properties and Limitations of Hologram Recording Materials

Abstract

The role of the recording material in holographic imaging is reviewed. Following a general classification of holograms into four basic types, the thick and thin amplitude and phase holograms, a discussion is given of the diffraction efficiency and other intrinsic characteristics of each of these types. The effects of zero spread nonlinearities in hologram recording are examined, and the limitations they impose on the usable diffraction efficiency of the various hologram types are discussed. The effect of the recording material modulation transfer function is treated by means of a fictitious mask model which facilitates prediction of the recordable object field and resolution. The noise characteristics of recording media are discussed in terms of their effect on holographic recording. Some examples of noise limitations on holographic information recording by silver halide emulsions are examined, as are the effects of such limitations on the dynamic range of holography. The effects of silver halide grain noise in conventional and holographic recording are compared, showing the conditions under which better performance can be achieved in the latter by a given emulsion. The characteristics of several nonsilver halide hologram recording materials are briefly summarized.

Evaluation of the Direct Effect of the Film MTF on the Holographic Image

“…Evaluating the above formula for a special holographic geometry, one obtains a diffraction limited image of the object . 4. Including the effect of the MTF in the diffraction integral In the following calculations it is assumed that the amplitude transfer function (ATF) of the recording material is real, i .e .…”

“…This may be especially important when computer generated optical elements are being either directly fabricated or copied into conventional recording materials . Although many valuable papers havebeen published on the theory of holography since the 1960s, the results of the majority of them are not applicable in the solution of the real problems of practical holography [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] . It is demonstrated here that the assumption of a rectangular MTF commonly applied by the experimentalists gives false results; the image quality is usually considerably underestimated .…”

Laser-Hologram Multicolor Moving Map Display System

“…The deviation from perfect linearity over a depth modulation of three half waves of wavelength, X = 0.4416 urn was unmeasurable. This condition was met by exposing for the time required to reach the above depth of 0.664 ^ when developed for 29 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] seconds in 4:1 developer at 20° C using ultrasonic agitation in the developer tank. The significance of the indicated depth is that 100% modulation of the refracted light by the grating takes place for a depth of \/2 in reflection mode (and X in the transmission mode assuming refractive index of the medium to be 1.5).…”

“…Two hologram forms 4-2 10 Redundancy effect 4- 6 11 Screen contrast as a function of screen reflectivity for various K values 4-9 12 Viewing system configuration schematic 4-12 13 Viewing geometry 4-14 14 Viewing screen, exploded view 4-15 15 Viewing screen ray trace -transmission 4-16 16 Viewing screen ray trace -reflection 4-17 17 Color coverage 4-19 18 Color separation plate densities 4-20 19 Tone reproduction cycle 4-22 20 Photoresist and dichromated gelatin sensitivity as a function of wavelength 4-31 21…”

Response curve for photosensitive films: a derivative method

“…2 For characterization of the material itself, however, or for optical components fabrication and photolithography it is advantageous to describe it in terms of its material response. 1 will be shown that this method has some advantages over the currently employed ones.…”